Re: [cobirds] Historical perspective on Bohemians?

In Southern Colorado, the last eruption of Bohemian Waxwings was in February 2005, there were 3,000+ around Lathrop State Park, Huerfano County.  Between 2005 and 2022, I only saw Bohemian Waxwings in Colorado in 2013 in Fremont County, a small number.  

Colorado Christmas Bird Counts this winter, found some Bohemian Waxwings, though the big numbers were mostly found after the Christmas Bird Count season was over.  Since not all the results are in yet, I don't know how many counts found them, and how many.  

Though so far, six counts found them, with a total of 250 birds.  

Denver (urban) CBC - 1

Douglas County CBC - 37

Granby CBC - 60

Gunnison CBC - 30

Loveland CBC - 81

Weldona-Fort Morgan CBC - 41

 

Brandon Percival

Colorado CBC Regional Editor
Pueblo West, CO

On Sun, Jan 29, 2023 at 5:24 PM Jared Del Rosso <jared.delrosso@gmail.com> wrote:

I'd love to hear from long-time birders about their experiences with Bohemian Waxwings prior to this year! While eBird tells part of the story, I'd love to hear more about these past encounters -- including but not limited to where, how many, when, what the birds were up to, and anything else that stood out. I think it would help those of us who are newer to the state and/or birding (like me) appreciate the encounters we're having this winter. 

Here's my contribution, which isn't my contribution.

W. H. Bergtold, who I wrote about for the October 2022 issue of DFO's The Lark Bunting, reported Bohemian Waxwings "all over [Denver] in great numbers, from February 22 to April 8, 1917, when the last two were seen in Cheesman Park." This brief account appears in The Wilson Bulletin in Bergtold's 1917 list of Denver birds. 

Oddly, Bergtold has a single account of a Cedar Waxwing listed in the same essay: "Cedar Waxwing. Seen in Berkeley, February, 1906." Might Denver's birders have once chased that Cedar as we've been out looking for Bohemians?

Finally, I'll note Joe Roller's eBird report of Bohemian Waxwings in his S. Yates home in 1991. Joe had told me that he'd had large flocks of Bohemian Waxwings in his yard, but I couldn't find it on the eBird map, thinking his home was closer to Wash Park and the encounter more recent. (Perhaps this is a previous home?) In any case, his brief note on the historical checklist tells us that 1991 was an invasion year for Bohemians: "Had large flocks throughout winter, lingering into spring. Larger than nearby Cedar Waxwings, rusty under tail coverts; 'mean' looking facies." I suspect "facies" is a typo, but with Joe I can't be sure. It's also apparently a medical term! I'll also admit to not realizing that Bohemians appear mean, though I indeed think that of Mountain Chickadees.

I checked DFO's newsletter archives, and Bohemians were reported on DFO trips from November 1990 (Barr Lake, three in total) through mid-April of 1991 (150+ in Lakewood). 

Briefly -- occasional sightings of a female/immature type Cassin's Finch and a White-throated Sparrow in my Centennial yard. Yesterday encountered a flock of robins and a small number of Bohemian Waxwings as they descended on an errant Buckthorn in a neighborhood yard near University and Orchard. I stopped briefly and made everyone in my car ooh and aah. 

- Jared Del Rosso

Centennial, CO

lonesomewhippoorwill.com

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